An alliance of migrant organizations called on the government on Friday to probe the “mysterious” deaths of seven overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East. According to Migrante-Middle East, Filipino migrant worker Noliza Leynes was the seventh victim on their list whose deaths still remain unresolved. “We have already documented six OFW victims of mysterious deaths in the Middle East from the start of this year, OFW Noliza Leynes being the latest victim of tragic incident of OFWs mysterious death,” Migrante-Middle East regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona said. In a press statement, Monterona's group said the body of Leynes is still in Doha, Qatar. Leynes died on March 28 after she allegedly jumped off a car. Monterona called for a thorough probe on Leynes' death “and proper representation should be made by the Philippine Embassy in Qatar on behalf of her family”. The group said the Leynes' family suspected that there was foul play in the OFW's death. Monterona said Leynes' death could have been prevented if only the Philippine embassy and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Doha acted swiftly to rescue her. The victim's aunt Edith Vargas allegedly provided information to authorities that her niece was being sexually abused by her employer. The group said another recent case was that of Jimbo Olivar who was reportedly murdered in his apartment at Amman, Jordan in January 2009. The group said that its chapter in the United Arab Emirates has also recorded four more alleged suicide cases of OFWs there.
